I am a scientist at a small biotech, trying to decide where to take my career next.

My background is mainly in pharmacology - in vivo safety/efficacy, CRO oversight, and leading research programs across several therapeutic areas.

Over time, I’ve taken on more clinical work, including clinical data analysis and review through EDC systems, regulatory submissions, PI discussions, and clinical publications. I’m now the go-to person with detailed questions about our clinical data.

I could keep building on my preclinical/translational background (I know there is still a lot more I can do there) or pursue clinical science and clinical development more deliberately, with greater involvement in trial design, strategy and work closely with CMC. I would like to hear from people who have worked in both areas, made a similar move, or hired for these roles.

1. How do the two paths compare in terms of long term opportunities and career flexibility for someone with my background?
2. What experience would be most useful to gain now if I wanted to move further into clinical? Is not having MD or other related degrees a downside?
3. If you made this transition, what do you wish you had known beforehand?

I would appreciate candid advice from anyone who considered or made the move.

I am in the US - at one of the biotech hubs, if that matters. Thanks!

Has anyone worked at aura? I'm considering applying

I'm really just hoping someone might have some advice here. I am looking to ship something sensitive internationally (US -> Europe), temperature controlled and probably ambient. There's a high chance it will receive scrutiny at the border. Does anyone have any advice regarding a good shipping and logistics company that can ease that journey to ensure these things don't die in transit?

Just to note that I have used WC and Patheon in the past for animal tissues, and have not had great success. I have also found them very expensive and difficult to work with if you don't work at a big company with a massive contract with them. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Now that the truth has come to light, it’s time for Kristin Knouse to face the same reputational and professional consequences that David Sabatini endured. The difference? Any consequences she faces now would be grounded in a jury’s verdict, rather than allegations alone.

Accountability should work both ways.

I currently work in pharmacy underwriting on the payer/PBM side and am considering a role in payer relations, negotiation strategy, and market intelligence on the retail pharmacy side.

Based on the job description, some of the responsibilities include:

• Developing payer-specific negotiation playbooks for major payer relationships
• Supporting preparation and strategy for negotiations with PBMs and health plans
• Evaluating pharmacy reimbursement strategies and deal economics
• Conducting market intelligence on PBM/health plan strategies, competitors, and industry trends
• Developing pre-negotiation positioning/frameworks and identifying counterparty objectives
• Supporting financial/analytical evaluation of different negotiation scenarios
• Conducting deal reviews and post-mortems to determine what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve future negotiations
• Turning lessons from negotiations into repeatable processes and institutional knowledge
• Working cross-functionally with senior Payer Relations leadership and other internal teams
• Eventually developing toward more direct ownership of payer negotiations/commercial deals

Has anyone here worked in payer relations or something similar? What does the work actually look like day to day?

Long term, I’m interested in potentially working for a drug manufacturer, ideally in something related to market access, payer strategy, pricing/contracting, etc. I’ll admit I don’t completely understand all the different specialties within pharma, so apologies if I’m using any of those terms incorrectly.

Could taking a role like this get me experience that would be relevant to market access or something else within pharma?

Thanks in advance.

27M and I feel like entering this profession like Andy in The Devil Wears Prada.

I have been in sales for years now and many people around me have told me how much of a step this is for my career since I have been working mostly all commission the past two (awful but learned a lot in my sales career).

Without any super hard sarcasm can you please give me advice on this field since I want to actually give it my all?

I know I don't fit through stereotype of the "hot blonde girl" with but rather an Italian looking gay boy who is friendly with people. I know from talking to people the three most important things are:

• don't come to the office without food
• don't come without knowing the product
• don't come dressed like shit

Let’s hear the good, the bad, and the ugly from CRAs who are familiar with working here please. I see that recruitment is an issue across the board. Is this the biggest stressor when it comes to working in rare disease?

Hey everyone!

I’m looking for advice on preparing for internship interviews at pharmaceutical companies like Merck, Amgen, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

I have a PharmD background, with most of my experience being in clinical practice, along with some industry exposure through an internship. I’m hoping to build on that experience and further explore opportunities within the pharmaceutical industry.

One of my upcoming interviews is a group interview with several other applicants and a panel, so I’d especially appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced this format.

A few questions I have:

• What types of questions should I expect in pharma internship interviews?
• How can I best highlight my PharmD and clinical experience when applying for industry internships?
• For the group interview, what are interviewers looking for, and how can I stand out while still being a good team player?
• Should I expect case studies, group exercises, or technical questions, or is it mostly behavioral?
• How much should I know about the company’s products, pipeline, and therapeutic areas beforehand?
• What are some common mistakes applicants make during these interviews?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has interviewed for internships at Merck, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, or similar pharmaceutical companies, especially those with a pharmacy or other healthcare background.

Any tips, resources, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated! I really want to prepare well and give myself the best chance of succeeding.

Thanks in advance! :)

Hey everyone 👋

My husband was laid off from pharma over a year ago now from BMS when they were selling off his site. We have been looking foreign and domestic and have had very little luck. I'm not part of the industry but my husband was (and take this with a grain of salt from someone not in that field trying to understand what he did) the global method validation expert for Abraxane. He is a biochemist and has over a decade and a half of experience in the industry with small molecule and biologics. Ireland is where we would like to be and call home ultimately. I've even been learning Gaeilge. He's done work there before. We can't seem to get a foothold in though. He's been applying and I've been helping him hunt and check on a dozen different companies and recruitment agencies. We are (unfortunately) living in the US. He's only had two meetings regarding two separate positions. I've read up as much as I can about the Visa process and employment as I can. We've also floated the idea of him going back for his PhD and applying to schools there and researching what that looks like. Any advice or places to look would be appreciated if you have the time, I know it's hard for everyone rn 😔 Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

Do you know anyone who was able to create a value proposition in a new business org and created a role for themselves? We have a lot of changes happening internally and wondering if this is feasible. Any thoughts?

Crossposting as this seemed relevant to the biotech community here as well.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SwitzerlandPharma/s/SyfW2xneZs

Interesting to see the range of Swiss biotechs and life-science companies heading to BioJapan next week. I’m particularly curious about Japan as a partnering/licensing market for smaller European biotechs.

Has anyone here worked on Japan–Europe biotech partnerships? Would be interested to hear how the market compares with the US for BD and licensing.

Hey Fam. I'm 39, and I spent the last four years applying to medical school. I finally got in and started this July, but back in May, my wife left me. After two months of school, I had to face the reality that I was not okay mentally at all, and that I might not want to become a physician without her in my life. I had long been in biotech/pharma and academic research, and I have two MS degrees, though one was in a biomedical program tailored to getting people into medical school. I'm on a leave of absence as of last week, but at my age, the financial reality of $500k of debt and years of lost income and being one accident away from monetary ruin is weighing on me. Would it be unreasonable to think I'm able to go back to pharma and make a decent living? Located on the East Coast (-ish) and would love to travel for work. Most of my experience has been in drug discovery and basic science research and academic clinical research, but I would really like to do an MSL job, if at all possible. Just looking for advice in general, because I'm in a pretty sad, lonely state right now and the walls are kind of closing in bad. Thank you for reading.

(I have read the Careers guide)

I am currently completing a MSc in pharmaceutical sciences (with publications). I am really not keen on staying in academia to pursue a PhD but everyone I talk to advises me to just do it now. I am wondering if anyone has experience in going into the industry with just a masters? What are starting salaries like? I know a PhD would get me a higher paying job than applying with an MSc, but what is the probable of being able to work my way up?

I also thought of the possibility of completing a PhD via industry but I'm not sure how viable this actually is and if many pharmaceutical companies do this.

Any advice is much appreciated!

I’m a PharmD/MBA and Sr. CRA. I supported my current sponsor through an FSP for two years, then moved in-house about 2.5 years ago. I’ve applied internally, built relationships, found mentors, and taken on work beyond my CRA role. After 4.5 years working with this sponsor, I’m starting to feel the pressure of how slowly I’m progressing.
I’m five months into a six-month Clinical Science Expert (CSE) rotation. I originally wanted a Clinical Development Director (CDD) rotation, but was told the CSE experience would build similar skills. Now I’m hearing I’d still need a CDD rotation to be considered. Several development leaders have told me there are no U.S. CDD openings and little expectation of that changing soon. Relocating overseas isn’t an option for my family.
I’ve explored other internal paths, too. I’ve been rejected for CPM and MSL roles, applied for a study start-up study lead role without hearing back, and kept an eye on safety positions, though I haven’t seen any U.S. openings. For MSL roles, I keep hearing that I need direct experience, but my company doesn’t offer shadowing or a rotation. If another opening comes up in my territory, I worry that applying again with the same résumé will lead to the same result. How can I build credible MSL experience while staying with the company? I’ve also asked about a CPM rotation and am waiting to hear back.
I earn about $149K plus a bonus, which I know is a good salary. But with a newborn, a toddler, a Southern California mortgage, and significant pharmacy student loans, I’m feeling increasingly impatient about finding a path forward. I postponed my paternity leave to finish the CSE rotation and plan to take the full 14 weeks early next year. I don’t want to lose that time with my family by changing jobs at the wrong time.
What would you do in my position? Would you pursue another rotation or start looking externally? If you’d look externally, would you apply now or wait until after paternity leave? I’d especially appreciate specific advice on how to become a stronger candidate for MSL, CPM, clinical development, or safety roles beyond simply applying again. Each rotation takes six months at 50% capacity and requires management approval. I’m willing to do another if it’s necessary, but it’s discouraging to keep delaying a move without knowing whether a role will be available afterward.

If anyone has knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry I'd appreciate your thoughts and opinions on my idea for a career change and relocation to Switzerland:

I'm almost 36, m, from Dublin, Ireland.

I have worked in Account Management and also Sales for 4+ years. I worked with Vehicle Management Software, Hospitality and also Retail Products.

I'm finding Software Sales and Account Management very volatile in Dublin right now, and the culture within those environments is no longer appealing. So I'm thinking about a career change.

Somebody recently mentioned the pharmaceutical industry to me.

I am thinking now maybe I will:

\- Try to join a pharmaceutical company in Dublin via an entry level role such as a Bioprocessor or Processing Technician.

I will work hard at that entry level role for 1 - 2 years while I learn new skills. Then I will aim for a promotion.

Then after 3 - 4 years I will try to move into a decent office job within the pharmaceutical industry.

Eventually after 4 - 5 years I will relocate to one of the pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland.

I think it would be good to end up working in:

\- Supply Chain

\- Procurement

\- or (Global) Account Management

Can anyone tell me is this a good idea? Would it be possible for me to achieve this plan of entering the pharmaceutical industry, relocating to Switzerland and working my way into a good job there?